Control mechanism



July 2, 1929. E. J. VALLEN 1,719,574

' CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July :50.` 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y.

July 2, 1929- E. .1. VALLEN 1.719.574

CONTROL MEcHANIsM v Filed July 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY,.-l

July 2, 1929 E. .IJ. VALLENA 1.1719574 CONTROL MEcHmwIsM NVENTOR. y L/w y f ffm/.W

- A i C65@ A TTORNE Y.

July 2, 1929. E. J. VALLEN CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July so, 192s 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lll lllwewmx C266@ By ,Q7-marsh July' 2, 1929. E. J. VALLEN CONTROL MECHANISM 5 sheets-sheet 5.

Filed July 30, 1925 I N VEN TOR. .57,1% vJ.' lm f/v,

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNIT EDA STATES EARL J'. VALLEN, OF AKRON, OHIO.

CONTROL MECHAN ISM.

Application'led Julyv 30, 1925.` Serial No. 47,159.

The` present invention relates to control mechanisms which may be adaptable for va rious purposes and in a variety of ways. The particularobject of the invention, however, is Vto provide a mechanism for controllingthe operation of theatre curtains and to provide asimple, easily controlled and operated de# vice by which the movement of the curtain can be governed. The apparatus shown herein is constructed so that with a single, one-way switch, the curtain can be stopped, started, reversed or caused to stop in its movement and then continue in the same direction.

It is apparent that the principles ofthe invention may be embodied in other forms than thatshown and the scope of the invention is not limited to exactV conformity with the details illustrated and described, and it is also obvious that the apparatus maybe utilized for other purposes and is notconfined to curtain operation.

In the drawings in which is shown one embodiment of the invention as applied Vparticularly to theatre curtain control:

Figure 1 is a plan view of' the improved apparatus Figure 2 is an end view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side View; v

Figure 4 is-a section on .theline 4.-4ffof Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the control drum operating mechanism;

Figure 6 isV adetailedviewof the drum rotating device Figure 7 is a `det-ail of thepawl;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the control drum;

Figure 9 is an elevation :thereof Figure 10 isa diagrammatic view ofthe wiring-device; l

Figures 11 and 12are front and side views, respectively, of an alternative methodof securing the curtain g and i Figures 13 to 16 are details thereof..

The control device is mounted upon `a substantially L-shaped base or platform 1, to

which is secured the-motor 2, which, through thefieXible coupling 3, drives the worm 4:. The -worm and worm gear 5 are supported within ahousing', the gearbeing secured to a driving=shaftl7mounted rin bearings 20 and 21upon the housing. To 'the shaft 7 is secured a disk or-plate 8, facingfwhich is located a-'second plate 9, freely rotatable on the shaft,

between which'platesis locateda series "of balls 10, seated withinsoekets upon thef plates Baud 9. To the plate 9 is secured a pulley 11 against which bears a coil spring l2 confined at its outer end by nuts 13 on the end ofthe shaft, and adjustable toregulate the pressure of the spring. By the arrangementdescribed, provision is made for the release ofthe pulley 11 from the shaft should the curtain stick at any point inits travel, the springbeing adjusted so that rotation is normally transmitted through the ball clutch 8-9--10, but in the case of an overload the ball clutch will permit the shaft to turn without rotating the pulley 11.

The curtain rope 16 passesover the pulley 11, being crossed as shown in Figure 2 and received within grooves upon a freely rotating pulley 17 and thence to thecurtain. kThe pulley 17 is carried upon the end of a stubshaft 18 located on the end of an arm 19 which is passed over the housing 21 to which it is adj ustably secured in any desired angular position by a set screw 22, this arrangement permittinga-certain adjustment ofthe arm 19v to accommodate varying theatre buildings. p The motor 2 is stopped and Y started by means of a rotating control drum to'be described, and is also automatically stopped at the upper and lower `limits of its movement.

The rotating control drum referred to is indicatedby the numeral 25, being carried upona shaft 26 mounted in an inverted U- shaped frame 27 and is designed to control the motor 2 byV any suitable wiring, one form of which is shown in Figure 10. The motor 2 is a reversible one and is `designed to be rotated in alternate directions as the rotating drum 25 is turned to afford the required contacts.

made of an insulating material, carries upon its surface two oppositely positioned L-shaped contact rails 30, the long and short arms of whichare placed in opposition, spaced 180 about the drum and connected across the ends ofthe drum. Insulating rings or walls 31 separate the long end of one rail andthe short end of the other and additional rings 32 are provided at the ends of the drum. A series of spring brushes or Contact fingers 33 are secured to the bottom of the pan tin which the mechanism is located.

The drum is arranged to be rotated through O at a step so that the spaces between the rails 30 afford dead points about the drum. When, however, the contacts rest upon the rails the motor 2 is: rotated in either direction.. depending Upea the pestion of the drum? In the form shown, the drum .225, which is Y wiring to accomplish the result being shown in Figure 10.

rlhe drum is rotated through 90O by means of a vertically arranged solenoid 40 which is adapted to be energized by a one-way switch 4l. Only one switch is shown, but it will be evident that there are to be several control stations in which switcl es niay be located and from which the curtain may be operated. The switch 4l is preferably a snap switch and when it is'closed the solenoid 40 is energized, drawing up the core 42 which is arranged to strike against a felt pad or cushion 42d in the upper end of the solenoid. rlhe weight of the core causes it to drop after the solenoid is deenergized.

At its lower end the core 42 carries a ball and socket or other universal joint 43, to which'is attached one end of the link 44, the other end being attached to a lever 45 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 26 at one end of the drum. A pawl 46 is 'carried upon the lever 45 and engages a ratchet 47 secured to the drum. The stroke of the lever 45 is sufficient to rotate the drum through one-quarter of a turn, but in order to insure the stopping of the drum in correct position, a squared plate 48 is carried upon the shaft 26, the plate being received between parallel arms 50 which are urged together by a coil spring 51 passing over a pin 52 located across the ends of the arms, the construction assuring accurate positioning of the drum. y

It will thus be seen that by closing the single switch 41, the operator of the curtain can energize the solenoid and cause a quarter turn in the control drum, causing the motor 2 to stop or start and thereby controlling the movement of the curtain. Should, for example, the curtain be moving downwardly and it be desired to stop it, a momentary closing of the switch will cause the drum to revolve until the brushes 33 rest upon the dead position of the drum. If the curtain is then to be raised, closing of the switch will bring the rails in contact with the brushes 33 and the motor will revolve in the opposite direction. If, however, the curtain is to continue its downward movement, three short operations of the switch will bring the drum around to cause the motor to rotate in the required direction.

The mechanism described is wholly under the control of the operator, and, in addition, a positive stopping device is provided by means of which the motor is stopped automatically when thecurtain is at its upper and lower limits.v Upon the shaft 7 within the housing 6 is located a worm 60 which drives a spiral gear 6l which rotates a shaft 62 projecting outwardly from the housing and carrying two adjustable dogs 63 which aredersigned to wipe against curved surfaces 64 upon opposite sides of a trip lever pivoted upon the housing.

The lever 65 is connected to a link 66 which rides at its other end upon a pin 58 in a lever 68 pivoted upon the frame 27. A spring 67 is located between a collar 59 and a washer 57 on the link 66. The lower end of the lever 68 is designed to contact a pawl 69 which is loosely mounted on the end of the shaft 26 adjacent the plate 4S. A licht coil spring 70 is secured at one end to a pin 7l on the pawl 69 and at the other to a pin. 72 on the plate 48. As the curtain is raised or lowered, the shaft 62 is rotated and the dogs 63 contact the curved surfaces 64 and rocking the lever 65 and moving the link 66 'until the compression of the spring 67 snaps the pawl over and brings the drum to a dead position, at which time the dogs pass off the surfaces 64 and the parts are restored to their idle-posi'- tion. One dog is for stopping the upward movement of the curtain-and the other for stopping' its downward movement and the adjustments of the dogs are regulated by the distance the curtain is required to travel.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 'l ad 2, the curtain is attached directly to the rope 16. In Figures 1l to 16 incl., the curtain is positively operated, the pulley l1 being replaced by a sprocket 60. A chain 8l passes over the sprocket and over a sprocketA 82 supported in the hanger 88. The ropes 84 for the curtain are secured to opposite 'runs of the chain by means of clamps 85 and pass over pulleys 86 inthe hanger 83.

What is claimed is:

l. In a mechanism for operating curtains or for similar purposes, comprising a motor, a rotating shaft operated by the motor, an adjustabledog upon the shaft, lever mechanism within the path of the dog, a rotating control drum, and mechanism for rotating said drum step by step mechanically connected to and operated by said lever.

2. In a mechanism for operating curtains or for similar purposes, comprising a motor a rotating shaft operated by the motor, an adjustable dog upon t-he shaft, lever mechanism within the path of the dog, a rotating control drum, mechanism for rotating said drum step by step mechanically connected to and operated by said lever, and a rmanually controlled circuit including a solenoid-and a ratchet mechanism for said drum operated thereby.

3. In a device of the character described, a

rotating control drum having separated contact points, brushes bearing against the surface of the drum, mechanism for rotating said drum to bring the brushes in contact with the points and between said points alternately, a second mechanism operable yindependently of the first-named mechanism to rotate said drum to place the brushes between the contact points only, a snap switch for controlling the first said mechanism, stops for actuating the second-named mechanism and means Jfor actuating the stops.

4. In a device of the character described, a rotating control drum having separated contact points, brushes bearing against the surface of the drum, ratchet mechanism for rotating said drum to bring the brushes in contact with the points and between said points alternately, a second mechanism operable independently of the first-named mechanism to rotate said drum to place the brushes between the contact points only, manually controlled means for operating the ratchet mechanism, and automatically controlled means for operating the second mechanism.

5. A curtain operating mechanism comprising a rotary contact drum for controlling the movement of the curtain, means to rotate the drum step by step, a plate having flattened sides attached to the drum, and spring actuated, arms bearing against the sides of the plate.

6. A curtain operating mechanism comprising a reversible motor, a rotary control drum therefor, sets of brushes connected to the motor and bearing against the surface of the drum, and contact plates on the drum having long and short arms placed in reversed relation.

7. A curtain operating mechanism comprising a reversible motor, a rotary control drum therefor, sets of brushes connected to the motor and bearing against the surface of the drum, and contact plates each having long and short arms placed at different points about the drum and said long and short arms being connected together' across the drum, the plates being placed in reverse relation upon the drum.

8. A theater curtain operating mechanism, having provisions for starting and-stopping the curtain and moving it in either direction at the control of the operator, said mechanism comprising the combination of al reversible motor, a curtain moving mechanism actuated by said motor, and control mechanism for said motor comprising' a rotatable drum having separated forward and reverse contacts electrically connected to said motor and separate mechanisms to rotate said drum positively step by step comprising (l) a solenoid, a. manually operated switch to energize the solenoid, a one step mechanical feed device connected to the solenoid and movable thereby and (2) a mechanical device for rotating the drum operated by the curtain at the limits of its movement.

9. In control mechanism for movable curtains, particularly theater curtains, comprising the combination of a reversible electric motor, curtain moving mechanism operated by the motor, a rotatable drum switch having forward and reverse contact separated by non-conducting points, and means to rotate said drum positively step by step comprising two mechanical feed devices, an electrically controlled actuating mechanism for one of said feed devices, stops for actuating the second feed device at the limits of movement of the curtain and a single contact switch for operating the electricallycontrolled actuating mechanism.

l0. In a. control mechanism for movable curtains, comprising a reversible motor, a rotatable control drum having forward and reverse contacts separated by non-conducting points, a ratchet operable to turn the drum when moved in one direction, a magnetic device to move the ratchet and thereby turn the drum step by step, a manually operated switch to energize the magnetic device, and a second device actuated by the curtain at the limits of its movement to rotate the drum.

EARL J. VALLEN. 

